State officials urge Mississippians to wear masks. Will it become a requirement?
While some are following the advice of state and federal health officials to wear face masks in public during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still many Mississippians who refuse.
Whether it’s based on a personal decision or availability, the lack of people wearing face masks in public has increasingly become a point of concern at Gov. Tate Reeves’ daily press briefings.
Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the state’s top health officer, didn’t hide his exasperation Monday when he discussed the lack of face masks being worn by Mississippians.
“I know we’re all trying to get back to some sense of normalcy. I’m tired of it too,” he said during Reeves’ press conference. “But as I go around and see people out in the community, I’m not seeing a whole lot of masks. You people who do wear masks, I applaud you. You’re protecting yourselves. You’re protecting your family.”
Dobbs has been a consistent proponent for the use of masks, even wearing one as he walks into Reeves’ daily press briefings. Reeves has not been wearing a mask to press conferences, but he has backed up Dobbs on the issue.
“We as individuals have to be responsible,” Reeves said Monday. “If we leave the house and go to a grocery store or to even a necessary medical procedure, wear a mask, protect yourselves and protect those you will be around.”
After COVID-19 arrived in the U.S. in late January, the Centers for Disease Control initially recommended only certain people wear masks, such as those showing symptoms or caring for COVID-19 patients. But in early April, the CDC changed its stance and said mask usage can help prevent the spread of the virus.
The main reason for the change was it became more clear that the novel coronavirus can spread between people in close proximity through speaking, coughing or sneezing — even if those people don’t have symptoms.
As the average American was suddenly asked to make or buy their own masks, public officials came under scrutiny for not wearing them.
In announcing the change, President Donald Trump said he personally would not be wearing a mask. More recently, Vice President Mike Pence was criticized for touring the Mayo Clinic without a mask.
Cities in California, Florida and New York have issued mandates asking people to wear masks. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced this week that residents will have to start wearing masks in public starting May 11.
Mississippi’s Starkville is requiring its residents to wear masks while shopping, and the Birmingham (Alabama) City Council voted this week to require residents to wear them starting May 1.
Getting people to wear masks in public also is a standard many health officials worldwide are recommending be met for countries and localities to start resuming normal operations.
Masks and food service
Under Reeves’ latest Safer At Home order, he asks that retail stores encourage employees to wear masks. Walmart and other large retail chains have had most of their employees donning masks for weeks.
This practice is seen less in smaller businesses in Mississippi, including employees at local restaurants that offer curbside service.
One Sun Herald reporter took advantage of curbside service at three different restaurants in D’Iberville and Ocean Springs this past weekend, only to find that no employees who were delivering food at those restaurants were wearing masks.
Georgia made headlines for its early decision to loosen restrictions on businesses, including allowing restaurants to open dining rooms as long as they limit capacity and require employees to wear face coverings.
For now, Reeves doesn’t seem inclined to force restaurant employees or any other Mississippians to wear face masks as he gradually moves closer to reopening more of the state’s economy. Restaurants are open to only takeout, curbside service and delivery until at least May 11.
“I don’t know if we are going to require and mandate that Mississippians wear masks, but we certainly highly recommend it,” he said. “We encourage it. We suggest it.
“I am asking all Mississippians to help us move through this and one of the best ways you can do that is if you are going to be in close contact or within 6 feet of any other Mississippian or any other American, you’d better serve fellow Mississippians if you in fact wear a mask.”
’Working nonstop’ on mask production
While many Mississippians have decided not to cover their faces in recent weeks, demand is still high at businesses that are producing masks.
E&K Embroidery and Scrubs in Gulfport has been busy creating masks for Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi and the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport.
Civilians can place individual orders by calling E&K Embroidery or by going to their location on Pass Road.
“The first week (of producing masks) was a little difficult,” said Maria Whittaker of E&K. “We had to figure out the sizes and which one is better. After a lot of testing the first week, we came out with a standard size that will fit everybody. It has three layers and it’s made of cloth. You can put it in the washing machine.
“We’ve been working nonstop since we figured out (how to follow CDC guidelines). We’ve had a good response from the public. The demand is good.”
Others have stepped up to meet the demand for masks, including the Gulfport School District which began to use its 3D printers to create masks for Memorial Hospital.
Face masks non-optional health settings
Dobbs said this week that if you’re planning on entering a health clinic or dentist’s office, be prepared to cover your face.
“The expectation is going to be for every patient to wear a mask in the waiting room,” he said. “This is something that hopefully will be a universal thing. When you go to the waiting room, plan on bringing a mask with you if you have one. If not, it’s our expectation the clinic will provide one for you.”
When it comes to people wearing a mask at the grocery store or in any other public setting, it will be up to the individual for the foreseeable future.
“I will certainly wear a mask,” said Robert Travnicek, an 80-year-old Coast resident who is a retired district health officer for the State Health Department. “I would wear one whenever I’m in contact with somebody. If you cough while wearing a mask, it stops the spread of the droplets. On the receiving end, I would say it’s very important.”
As for many other Mississippians, they’ll hold off on covering their faces.
“I’m not wearing a mask unless I get sick,” Biloxi resident Brantley Thompson said. “With that said, I extremely hope the U.S. finally culturally accepts wearing a mask when sick whether it’s at work, or running errands on an off day. It needs to be culturally accepted here to wear mask when sick without a boss/manager/teacher telling you to take it off. Coronavirus or not, it needs to be culturally acceptable, period.”
